A French region with a Viking soul, impressionist landscapes and indelible memories of the pain of an absurd war.
If you plan to take a tour of France, we suggest that you include in your itinerary a series of extraordinary places to visit in Normandy. This legendary territory is located in the northwest of the country, on the coast of the English Channel, and has been the protagonist of epic stories.
Normandy is the primitive region of the Nortmanni or “Northmen” as the invading Vikings were called. These are the lands of the Viking Rollon , the first Duke of Normandy, William the Conqueror and Richard the Lionheart, both Kings of England.
But it is also the place of the famous Camembert cheese, exquisite apples, ciders and calvados. Let’s get to know its fascinating landscapes!
Iconic places to visit in Normandy
In Normandy you will find the famous impressionist lights and the painful testimonies of battles and wars . A particular combination that you will love for its beauty and will move you for its historical significance.
1. Mont Saint Michel: with the magic of the sea at your feet
To get to Mont Saint Michel, you must cross the Pont Passerelle access bridge.
We start this tour at the mouth of the Couesnon River. There, a rocky island called Mont Saint Michel stands proud , home to a monastery and a picturesque village.
The abbey and the bay were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 . Although the construction of the Benedictine abbey dates back to the 10th century, religious facilities have existed on the site since the 4th century.
Arriving from Beauvoir via the Pont Passerelle access bridge, the complex stands imposingly at the end of the path, in an image that will leave you amazed . The site is one of the places with the highest tides in Europe, and when they exceed a certain height (coefficient 110), Saint Michel becomes an island. You can see here the tide tables with their schedules and coefficients.
2. Normandy D-Day Beaches: remember so as not to repeat the horror
Remnants of D-Day can still be seen on the landing beaches.
From Saint Michel, you cross the Cotentin peninsula and the salt marshes, to arrive directly at the D-Day beaches.
On June 6, 1944, the Normandy beaches were the protagonists of the landing of allied forces that meant the beginning of the end of the Second World War. The route through these beaches is full of monuments and memorials in honor of those who fought and fell in this place.
Walking along Utah Beach and visiting the Landing Museum is moving . Later you arrive at Omaha Beach with the Overlord Museum and a few minutes away, you can visit the Normandy American Cemetery with its thousands of white crosses.
Half an hour away you find the town of Arromanches-les-Bains on Gold Beach. The temporary Mulberry Harbor was built there , the concrete blocks of which have been moved to the beach.
Finally, you arrive at Juno Beach , the landing place for the Canadian troops. The Juno Center was built here , created by Canadian veterans to bear witness to their participation in the fight against Nazism. This site has an educational vocation that distinguishes it from other museums .
” When you walk through the sands of Juno, they (the soldiers who started there to liberate Europe) walk with you .” Educational video from the Juno Center.
3. Caen: the city of William the Conqueror
The construction of the Abbey of Men began in 1065 under the orders of William I of England, the Conqueror.
To end the D-Day theme, visit the city of Caen. In this, there is a Memorial built on a German bunker and, in addition, you can visit the Museum of Peace.
Here, William the Conqueror ordered the construction of the Abbey of Men (current City Hall) , and the church of San Esteban where his remains rest today. While her wife Matilde de Flandes, she did the same with the Damas Abbey and the Trinidad Church, where she was buried.
4. Deauville: beaches and glamor
Deauville, the glamorous beach of colored umbrellas.
An hour from Caen, on the coast, is the beach of Deauville . This picturesque town is famous for the historic Promenade des Planches , a wooden promenade built in 1923.
The long terrace is 656 meters long and 7 meters wide , while Art Deco -style booths and multicolored umbrellas shine on the surrounding sand .
A place to rest chosen for many years by movie stars, whose glamorous setting is completed with luxury hotels, a large casino, a golf course and two racetracks.
5. Le Havre: revived and avant-garde
The port of Le Havre is an impressive sight for those who visit it.
Leaving Deauville on the A29, in about an hour, you arrive at the port of Le Havre, located at the mouth of the Seine River.
This city was badly affected by the bombings of World War II, but a good part of it was rebuilt between 1946 and 1964 . In 2005, UNESCO declared the Reconstructed Center of Le Havre a World Heritage Site.
Among the must-sees in this fantastic city are the Saint-Joseph church, restored under the direction of Auguste Perret, the Town Hall, the “ El Volcan” cultural center , the work of the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, the Museum of Modern Art and the impressive port.
6. The Alabaster Coast: cliffs and protected areas
The cliffs are the main attraction of the French town of Etretat.
Following the D940 route north along the coast, 40 minutes from Le Havre, you come across a stunning natural wonder: the cliffs of Etretat .
The chalk stone walls shaped by the erosion of water and wind over hundreds of years have given rise to forms such as the Porte d’Aval and the Aiguille, immortalized in works and photographs by famous artists.
The entire area is ecologically fragile, so access to the cliffs has certain restrictions (4x4s or horseback riding are not allowed, and the use of trails by tourists must always be planned).
7. Rouen or Rouen: the end of Joan of Arc
Being one of the oldest clocks in Europe, the Gros-Horloge was set in motion in the year 1389.
From the village of Etretat, an hour and a half by road inland, you arrive at the city of Rouen. The capital of Normandy is located in the Seine Valley and is known as the City of a Hundred Steeple .
Finally, you cannot leave Rouen without visiting the Vieux Marche square, where Joan of Arc was condemned and burned in 1431.
8. Giverny: Monet’s place in the world
At his home in Giverny, Claude Monet created around 250 paintings of the Water Lilies cycle.
From Rouen, if you travel an hour inland along the Seine Valley, you will find the town of Giverny. In 1883, the painter Claude Monet chose this exquisite place to live, where he developed the 250 paintings of the Water Lilies cycle .
His house, with its colorful Japanese-style garden, was restored and turned into a museum, receiving thousands of tourists every year; lovers of art and impressionism, in particular.
Ready to visit Normandy?
Do you want to plan a trip to an unforgettable destination? In Normandy there are hidden places that you cannot miss, so get ready for this French region where nature and history are breathed at every step you take.
